PM Modi approves 27% OBC, 10% EWS reservation in state medical college admissions

NEW DELHI: The central government today approved 27% reservation to candidates belonging to Other Backward Class (OBCs) and 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) aspirants in the All India Quota Scheme for undergraduate and postgraduate medical and dental courses.

Our Government has taken a landmark decision for providing 27% reservation for OBCs and 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Section in the All India Quota Scheme for undergraduate and postgraduate medical/dental courses from the current academic year. https://t.co/gv2EygCZ7N

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 29, 2021

This decision on the long-pending demand on the reservation would benefit nearly 1500 OBC students in MBBS and 2500 OBC students in PG medical courses and also around 550 EWS students in MBBS and around 1000 EWS students in PG courses every year.

Increase in the number of medical UG and PG seats over years

A PIB report says, "During the last six years, MBBS seats in the country have increased by 56% from 54,348 seats in 2014 to 84,649 seats in 2020 and the number of PG seats have increased by 80% from 30,191seats in 2014 to 54,275 seats in 2020. During the same period, 179 new medical colleges have been established and now the country has 558 medical colleges."

On EWS and OBC reservation, the report states that the decision is also in sync with the significant reforms carried out in the field of medical education since 2014.

“This will immensely help thousands of our youth every year get better opportunities and create a new paradigm of social justice in our country,” PM Modi said.

OBC reservations in NEET AIQ seats

After the NEET counselling, 15% of seats in undergraduate and 50% seats in postgraduate medical courses are allotted centrally while the rest are allotted at the state level. Only Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe were so far given reservation in NEET. SC and ST got 15% and 7.5% reservations respectively under the All India Quota, as per the Supreme Court ruling in 2007.

"In three years, more than 11,000 seats meant for OBC candidates were diverted to UR category students in medical and dental colleges in India," All India Federation of Other Backward Classes Employees Welfare Association, a body representing OBCs across the country alleged.

According to various reports, this major decision came a day after PM Modi held a meeting to discuss OBC reservation in medical colleges.

NEET UG is scheduled to be conducted on September 12, 2021, for admission to 83,075 MBBS, 26,949 BDS, 52,720 AYUSH, and 525 BVSc and AH seats including 1,899 AIIMS and 249 JIPMER seats. While NEET-PG will held on September 11, 2021, for admission to 12,690 Master of Surgery (MS), 24,360 Doctor of Medicine (MD), and 922 PG Diploma seats

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